City Records — Cheapest Rent, Safest Streets, Fastest Internet
Who holds the crown? The #1 city for each metric, backed by real data. No vibes, no sponsored content.
Best Livability Score
Top overall score across affordability, safety, internet, democracy, climate, and stability.
Cheapest Rent
1-bedroom apartment in city centre. Your monthly bleeding stopped here.
Most Expensive Rent
Aspirational. Or masochistic. Both, really.
Safest Streets
Lowest homicide rate per 100,000 people. Leave the bike outside.
Fastest Internet
Average city download speed. Your video calls will actually work.
Most Democratic
Highest democracy index score out of 10. Rule of law, actual courts.
Most English-Friendly
Highest English proficiency score. Order coffee without the panic.
Hottest Summers
Average summer high temperature. Pack accordingly.
Mildest Winters
Highest winter low temperature. Means you won't need that parka.
Sunniest Cities
Highest average % of clear days year-round. Real sunshine data.
Cheapest Meal Out
Most affordable inexpensive restaurant meal. Eat well for less.
Cheapest Cappuccino
A terrible metric for city quality. A delightful one for vibes.
Fastest-Growing Economies
Highest GDP growth rate. Get in before the hype fully arrives.
Most Stable Prices
Lowest inflation. Your purchasing power won't evaporate overnight.
Most Politically Free
Highest Freedom House score (0–100). Press freedom, civil liberties, working courts.
Most Reliable Power Grid
Highest grid reliability score. Lights stay on, background noise stays quiet.
Fastest Path to Residency
Fewest years to permanent residency. For people who want papers, not just a visa.
Want to see how every city stacks up?
Frequently Asked Questions
Which city has the cheapest rent in our database?▼
The cheapest city-centre 1-bedroom rents in our 2026 database: Goa ($167/mo), Cairo ($215/mo), Bangalore ($324/mo). These figures are from Numbeo and represent median city-centre apartment costs.
What is the safest city to live in?▼
By UNODC homicide rate (the most objective safety metric), the safest cities are: Singapore (0.12 per 100k), Tokyo (0.23 per 100k), Bali (0.31 per 100k). Lower is safer.
Which city has the fastest internet speed?▼
Top cities for download speed (Ookla Speedtest data): Dubai (378 Mbps), Shanghai (281 Mbps), Singapore (279 Mbps).
Which city has the best democracy score for expats?▼
EIU Democracy Index top scorers: Gothenburg (9.4 / 10), Malmo (9.4 / 10), Stockholm (9.4 / 10). Higher scores mean stronger rule of law, press freedom, and civil liberties — all important for long-term relocation.
Which city is best for English speakers moving abroad?▼
Top cities for English proficiency (EF EPI scores): Chicago (EF 650), Honolulu (EF 650), Las Vegas (EF 650). These cities score highest for English as a working and daily language — less language barrier, smoother integration.
Which city has the highest overall Livability Score?▼
Top-ranked cities by Townleap's composite Livability Score (combines affordability, safety, internet, democracy, climate, and English): Porto (82 / 100), Seoul (81 / 100), Lisbon (79 / 100). The Livability Score weights all key factors that matter for long-term relocation.
Which city has the fastest-growing economy?▼
Top cities by recent GDP growth rate: Batumi (9.7%/yr GDP growth), Tbilisi (9.7%/yr GDP growth), Da Nang (7.1%/yr GDP growth). Fast-growing economies signal expanding job markets and opportunity — relevant if you plan to work locally.